Glazing window or windscreen openings, particularly in vehicle bodies

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to glazing window or windscreen openings, particularly in vehicle bodies by securing the glass, with a trim strip surrounding its edge, in the rebate of the opening by means of an adhesive pressed between the glass and/or the trim strip and the rebate. The trim strip is made of flexible plastics material with a channel portion which embraces the edge of the glass, and a front decorative strip portion which extends from and can hinge relative to the edge of the front wall of the channel portion which lies on the inside of the trim strip when it is fitted around the glass. The outer edge of the front portion bears against the rebate. By this construction the inside edge of the trim strip is kept against the glass, and any tendency to buckling is avoided.

United States Patent 1191 Kent 1 51 Sept. 18, 1973 G-LAZING WINDOW ORWINDSCREEN OPENINGS, PARTICULARLY IN VEHICLE BODIES Related US.Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 865,428, Oct. 10,1969, Pat. No. 3,705,470, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.827,633, May 26, I969, abandoned.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 2,056,024 9/1936 Staut .1 52/4003,155,204 11/1964 Campbell et al..... 52 397 3,274,740 9/1966 Hall52/208 2,683,905 7 1954 Beck 52 476 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS1,013,322 12/1965 Great Britain 52/208 979,707 l/l965 Great Britain...52/400 496,050 9/1953 Canada 52 400 Primary Examiner-Frank L. AbbottAssistant Examiner-Leslie A. Braun Attorney-Larson, Taylor & Hinds [57]ABSTRACT The invention relates to glazing window or windscreen openings,particularly in vehicle bodies by securing the glass, with a trim stripsurrounding its edge, in the rebate of the opening by means of anadhesive pressed between the glass and/or the trim strip and the rebate.The trim strip is made of flexible plastics material with a channelportion which embraces the edge of the glass, and a front decorativestrip portion which extends from and can hinge relative to the edge ofthe front wall of the channel portion which lies on the inside of thetrim strip when it is fitted around the glass. The outer edge of thefront portion bears against the rebate. By this construction the insideedge of the trim strip is kept against the glass, and any tendency tobuckling is avoided.

13 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEPI 8 i973 SHEET 2 BF 3 BLAZINGWINDOW OR WINDSCREEN OPENINGS, PARTICULARLY IN VEHICLE BODIES RELATEDAPPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of my copendingapplication Ser. No. 865,428 for IMPROVE- MENTS IN GLAZING WINDOWS ORWIND- SCREEN OPENINGS, PARTICULARLY IN VEHI- CLE BODIES filed Oct. 10,1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,470, issued Dec. 12, 1972 which is itselfa continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 827,633 forIMPROVEMENTS IN GLAZING WIN- DOWS OR WINDSCREEN OPENINGS, PARTICU- LARLYIN VEHICLE BODIES filed May 26, 1969 and now abandoned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to glazing windowor windscreen openings, particularly in vehicle bodies, in which theglass (which term is used herein to include other transparent materials)is secured in the rebate of the opening with the aid of an adhesive, anda trim strip made of rubber or a flexible plastics material surroundsthe edge of the glass.

The invention is particularly concerned with the construction of thetrim strip and to methods of glazing using this trim strip.

The'trim strip according to the invention is made preferably byextrusion, of a flexible plastics material, such as polyvinyl chloride,or a rubber-like elastomer, and comprises a channel portion dimensionedto embrace the edge of the glass and a front strip portion which extendsfrom the edge of the front wall of the channel, that is the wall whichis to lie against the outer surface of the glass, so as to overlie saidfront wall and project beyond the base of the channel, said front stripportion being free to flex away from said front wall of the channelabout its junction with said edge of said front wall. Such flexingoccurs when the edge of the front strip portion which projects below thechannel base engages with the front of the rebate when the glass, withthe trim strip fitted around its periphery, is inserted in the rebate tostick the glass therein. The front strip portion thus encloses the spacebetween the edge of the glass and the rebate, and the fact that theflexing of the front strip portion relative to said front wall occursalong the inner edge of the trim strip, when it is fitted around theedge of the glass,ensures that the inner edge of the trim strip is urgedclose against the glass, even around curves at the corners of the glasspanel, as well as providing pressure contact between the free outer edgeof the front strip portion and the front of the rebate.

The invention also consists in a window or windscreen assembly in whichthe glass is secured with the aid of an adhesive in a rebate defining anopening in which the glass is fitted and the edge of the glass is surrounded by a trim strip of a flexible plastics material or a rubber-likeelastomer comprising a channel portion embracing the edge of the glassand a front strip portion which extends from the inner edge of the front.wall of the channel portion, which lies against the front of the glass,in a direction which overlies said front wall, the free edge of the saidfront strip portion engaging the front of the rebate.

According to a feature of the invention the channel portion of the trimstrip is additionally secured to the edge of the glass by retainingclips which are sprung or clamped over the channel portion at selectedpositions around the edge of the glass and/or by adhesive appliedbetween the glass and the inside of the channel portion.

The front strip portion is preferably provided with a decorativemetallic appearance. For example, the trim strip may be extruded of atransparent or translucent plastics material and have a metal foil, forexample aluminum foil, embedded therein so as to be visible through thefront surface of the front strip portion, or a decorative metallisedplastics foil or metal-plastics foil laminate may be bonded to the frontsurface of said front strip portion.

The invention also consists in a method of glazing a window orwindscreen opening in the form of a rebate having a back wall and afront shoulder, which consists in assembling a trim strip as abovedescribed around a glass panel with the edge of the glass panel bracedby the channel portion of the trim strip, inserting the assembly intothe rebate with at least one layer of adhesive between the back wall ofthe rebate and a zone of the back of the glass panel which is disposedbehind and hidden by the front strip portion of the trim strip, andmoving the assembly into the opening firstly to bring the free edge ofsaid front strip into contact with the front shoulder of the rebate andthen to flex the front strip portion away from the channel portion andto exert pressure on said at least one layer of adhesive to stick theglass panel to the back wall of the rebate. In order that the inventionmay be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to theaccompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trimstrip according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a scrap section through a part of an automobile bodywindscreen opening with the glazing completed according to thisinvention.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the glazing assembly andbody opening in exploded relation prior to securing the glazing assemblyin the body opening according to one procedure for carrying out themethod of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a spring retaining clip.

FIG. 5 is a scrap perspective view of the glass and trim strip assemblyof FIG. 3 prior to its insertion in the body opening. I

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing a modified procedure ofassembly in which the adhesive is initially applied to the back of therebate instead of to the back of the glass.

FIG. 7 to 10 are views, similar to FIG. 2, showing variousmodifications.

FIGS. ll, 13 and 15 are views, similar to FIG. 2, showing furtherembodiments, and

FIGS. 12, 14 and 16 are sections through the trim strips shown in FIGS.11, 13 and 15 respectively, as extruded.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, 1 represents part ofa'vehicle body adjacent the windscreen opening formed by a rebate havinga back wall 2 and a front shoulder'3. The glass 4 is stuck to the rearwall :2 of the rebate by a mass of adhesive sealant 5, for example abutyl rubber adhesive sealant, or it may be of the thermosetting type.Surrounding the edge of the glass panel 4 is a trim strip 6 extruded ofa flexible plastics material, such as polyvinyl chloride, with theconfiguration shown in FIG. 1. As shown it comprises a channel-shapedportion 7 adapted to embrace the edge of the glass. From the top edge orlip of the front wall 7a of this channel portion extends a front stripportion 8, which overlies 'said front wall and is wider than the depthof the front wall 7a so that its free edge projects beyond the base ofthe channel portion sufficiently to engage against the front 3 of therebate when the glass and trim strip assembly is inserted in thewindscreen opening, the front strip portion thereby enclosing the spacebetween the edge of the glass and the rebate. The plastics materialjoining the front strip portion 8 and said edge or lip forms a flexiblehinge junction which, being the only connection between the front stripportion and the channel portion, allows the front strip portion 8 toflex away from the front wall 7a, as shown in FIG. 2, when the assemblyis pressed in to the rebate with the free edge of the front stripportion bearing against the front 3 of the rebate.

The rear wall 7b of the channel portion is of less depth than the frontwall 7a so that the adhesive 5 can be applied to the back of the glassaround a zone adjacent the edge thereof which lies behind and will behidden by the front wall 7a and front strip portion 8.

The front strip portion 8 is preferably constructed to provide adecorative metallic appearance to which end, in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the extrusion is made of a transparent material such ascrystal clear polyvinyl chloride, with a strip of aluminum foil 9embedded or encapsulated in said front strip portion so that its brightsurface is visible throughgthe front thereof.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the decorative metallicappearance is provided by bonding a decorative layer 9a, e.g., a stripof metal foil covered with a transparent protective layer, to the frontsurface of the front strip portion 8. The decorative layer 9a mayconsist of a metal-plastics foil laminate comprising a strip of metalfoil, e.g., aluminum foil, laminated between two layers of plastics foilof which at least one is transparent, e.g., transparent P.V.C., or MYLAR(Trade Mark) and forms the front surface when the laminate is bonded tothe front strip portion 8, and of which the other is capable of beingbonded by adhesive and/or heat to the front surface of the front stripportion 8. The laminate may also be constructed as described in thespecification of my co-pending application Ser. No. 845,155 filed July28, 1969 for Decorative Plastics Strips and Extrusions. When thedecoration is provided by. bonding a decorative layer to the front ofthe front strip portion 8, as shown in FIG. 6, it is not necessary forthe trim strip 6 to be extruded from transparent plastics material.

The trim stripwhich extends completely around the edge of the glass, maybe additionally secured to the glass by adhesive and/or by retainingclips 10, conveniently spring metal clips, as shown in FIG. 4, fixed atsuitably selected positions around the edge of the glass. These clipsmay be applied by a'preloaded hand tool dispenser.

According to one procedure for carrying out .the method of thisinvention, the glass, prior to assembly in the rebate, has the trimstrip fitted aroundthe edge thereof and the adhesive 5 appliedtothe backthereof as shown in FIG. 3 to form an assembly as shown in assembly ispressed inwards to press the adhevive 5 against the back'wall 2 of therebate. During this operation the front strip portion 8 is flexed awayfrom the front wall 7a of the channel portion 7 to the position shown inFIG. 2 by reason of the free edge of the front strip portion coming intoengagement with the front'3 of the rebate. The supports 11 may compriseblocks of I rubber or plastics material stuck to the bottom of therebate.

According to another procedure for carrying out the method of thisinvention, the adhesive 5 is, as shown in FIG. 6, initially applied tothe back of the rebate instead of to the back of the glass. The glasswith the trim strip fitted around the edge thereof, is offered up to therebate to rest on the spacer supports 11, and the glass is pressedagainst the adhesive and bonded thereto. Again during this operation thefront strip portion 8 of the trim strip is flexed away from the frontwall 7a as shown in FIG. 2.

If desirable for the adhesive used, a coating of a primer may be appliedto the zones on the back of the glass and the back of the rebate wherethe adhesive is to be adhered. Also, depending on the adhesive used, acuring or other setting operation may be required firmly to stick theglass in the rebate. The adhesive is conveniently applied in the form ofa ribbon and preferably has a cross-section which is tubular or waisted(as shown in FlG. 3) or hasa groove, such as a V- groove as shown inFIG. 6, in order to improve itscompressibility and to avoid the adhesivespewing out too much or over the rebate when the adhesive is compressedbetween the glass and the back of the rebate.

One adhesive which we have found to be satisfactory is the butyl rubberadhesive sealant known as PTI Auto Glass Tape made by ProtectiveTreatments Inc. of Dellrose Ave., Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A.

If it be desired to cover the mass of adhesive 5 where it isexposedbetween the back of the glass and the edge of the back wall 2 ofthe rebate, this may be effected by applying a further interior trimstrip thereover.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, this interior trim strip 12 maycomprise a body portion, of any desired cross-section, which bridges thespace between the back of the glass and the back wall 2 of the rebate,and is provided with a web 13 extending along its length (the web may beof fir tree cross-section as shown) which is embedded in the mass ofadhesive 5. The interior trim strip, which may if desired be providedwith a decorative metallic finish, may be pressed into the mass ofadhesive after the glass has been inserted in to the window opening. i

In anothermodification as shown in FIG. 8, the interior trim strip 12 isprovided with'a skirt portion 14 which extends over the edge of the backwall 2 of the rebate and may be secured, for example by sticking, to thesurface 15 of the back wall-2 which faces the interior of the vehiclebody. The body-portion of the interior trim strip may simply be adheredto the mass of adhesive 5, or may also be provided with a web portion13, similar to that of the embodiment of FIG. 7, which isembedded in themass of adhesive.

FIG. 9 shows'another method of covering in the mass of adhesive 5. Inthis embodiment, the edge of the back wall 2 of the rebate is formedwith an outwardly projecting lip or flange 16 which extends around thewindow; opening and overlies the mass of adhesive. The width l'of thelip or flange 16 is preferably such that a small clearance is leftbetween the edge of the lip and the back of the glass when the glass issecured in the rebate.

Instead of applying the adhesive directly between the back of the glassand the back of the rebate, the channel portion 7 of the trim strip maybe stuck to the glass and the said channel portion be secured byadhesive to the back of the rebate. In this case it is not necessarythat the rear channel wall 7b should be of less depth than the frontchannel wall 7a.

An embodiment of this modification is illustrated in FIG. 10, in whichthe rear channel 7b, which is made deeper than the rear channel wall inthe embodiment of FIG. 2, have its inner surface stuck to (a recess maybe provided in said inner surface to receive the the back of the glassby an adhesive indicated at 17, adhesive), and the outer surface of therear channel wall is secured to the back wall 2 of the rebate by a massof adhesive 5. In the embdoiment shown, the rear channel wall 7b isprovided at its top with a rearwardly directed lip 18 which is adaptedto engage the back wall 2 of the rebate and enclose the mass ofadhesive. A groove 19 may be formed at the junction between the top ofthe rear wall 7b and the lip 18 to facilitate the flexing of the lipwhen it engages the back wall 2 of the rebate.

In all embodiments, by reason of the hinge junction between the channelportion 7 and the front strip portion 8 being on the inner edge of thetrim strip, when the trim strip is secured around the glass, the flexingof the front strip portion 8 away from the front wall 7a of the channelportion, when the assembly is secured in position, has the effect ofcausing the inner and outer edges of the front strip portion to bepressed into firm contact with the glass 4 and front 3 of the rebaterespectively, even around the radius to which the trim strip is bent atthe corners of the glass panel.

Further, by reason of the free outer edge of the front strip portion 8being free of any reinforcing flange or enlargement such as isprovidedby the hinge junction with the channel portion at the inner edge of thefront strip portion, and that only the said inner edge is so reinforced,the said free outer edge, and zones of the front strip portion acrossits width between its free outer edge and the hinge junction at itsinner edge, are free to stretch sufficiently when the trim strip is bentaround the normal radius at the corners of a windscreen, to avoidbuckling of the inner edge of the front strip portion around such bends.The decorative metal foil also stretches across its width, to increasingdegrees towards said free outer edge of the front strip portion, withoutany noticeable compression of the foil adjacent the inner edge of thefront strip portion, whereby crinkling of the metal foil around bends ofnormal radius is avoided.

The rather flat or shallow convex cross-section of the front stripportion 8, and the fact that the inner and outer edges of the frontstrip portion lie snugly against the glass and the front of the rebaterespectively, assist in reducing windscreen wind noise.

To facilitate fitting the trim strip around the edge of the glass panela length of the trim strip, corresponding to the length of the peripheryof the glass panel, may be pre-bent to the shape of the panel. The bentstrip can be easily fitted around the edge of the windscreen panel. Theends of the strip are joined and aligned by means of an appropriateclip, and spring clips may be fitted at each side of the join and atsuch other positions around the windscreen panel as may benecessary.

While particular embodiments have been described, it will be understoodthat various modifications may be made without departing from the scopeof the invention. For example, the trim strip could be made of two ormore extruded sections, of the same or different materials, which couldbe bonded together during extrusion or subsequently to form the completeunitary trim strip of this invention.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the front of the trim strip may have afacing 41 of metal, e.g., stainless steel, or

other suitable material secured thereto, for example by an interengagingor clip connection or by adhesive. The drawing shows the front stripportion 8 as being provided with a dovetail channel 42 with which engageprojecting lips 43 along the edges of the folded-back margins 44 of astainless steel facing section 41 to hold the section 41 assembled tothe trim strip 6. The facing section 41 may be wider that the frontstrip portion 8 which may be desirable where, at least at some placesaround a windscreen, an extra wide front facing is required. The metalfacing section may be bent to shape before assembly to the trim strip.

In modifications of the embodiment of FIG. 10, the adhesive layer 17 mayalternatively be disposed between the base of the channel portion 7 andthe edge of the glass, or -it may be entirely omitted between the glassand the channel portion in which case the adhesive is only disposedbetween the back of the rear channel wall 7b and the back wall of therebate.

In another modification of FIG. 10, the mass of adhesive may be located,entirely or at least in part, between the base of the channel portion 7and the opposing wall of the rebate. Bonding pressure on the adhesivemay be achieved by making the base of the channel wedgeshaped or byother appropriate means.

Experience has shown that some motor cars have bodies which are designedwith window openings having rebates of such configuration that a trimstrip constructed as specifically described above is unsuitable for usetherewith. For example, in some cars the rebate is of such a depth thatit would be preferable, and sometimes even necessary, for the free outeredge to lie within the depth of the rebate and engage the peripheralwall thereof, instead of engaging the front of the rebate. Again, insome cars, the peripheral wall of the rebate does not extendsubstantially perpendicular to the back wall, but at a relatively largeobtuse angle thereto, which requires the front strip portion of the trimstrip to be made somewhat deeper than described in the above descriptionto enable its outer free edge to engage and press firmly against a partof the body (in this case the peripheral wall itself) surrounding thewindow opening. This can increase the difficulty, where the front stripportion comprises a strip of metal foil or metallised plastics foilembedded therein or secured thereon, of avoiding crinkling of the metalfoil where it is bent around corners of the glass panel, whichdifficulty increases with increase in width of the metal or metallisedfoil.

The present invention also provides a modified construction of trimstrip which, while providing improved sealing between the free outeredge of the front strip portion and a vehicle body having a windowopening rebate asshown in FIGS. 1 to 10, also overcomes the problemsexisting with vehicle bodies having different configurations of windowopening rebates as referred to above.

This modified trim strip is characterised by a zone along the free edgeof its front strip portion comprising a lip portion which is sodimensioned and shaped and- /or is made of a material or grade ofmaterial which is softer and of a more flexible nature than that of theremainder of the front strip portion that, when pressure is appliedagainst said free edge, the lip portion will flex or bend relative tothe remainder of the front strip portion more readily than said frontstrip portion flexes about its junction with the front wall of thechannel portion of the strip. The lip portion acts as a gasket sealingagainst the vehicle body around the glass panel, and also compensatesfor tolerance variations in the dimensions of the rebate and of theglass panel.

The lip portion may be made of the same plastics material as theremainder of the front strip portion and extruded integrally therewith,being dimensioned and shaped to provide the desired flexibility.Alternatively, the lip portion may be made of a material or grade ofmaterial which is softer and of a more flexible nature than that of theremainder of the front strip portion, in which case it may, if thematerials are compatible, be fused to the edge of the front stripportion, for example by simultaneously extruding both materials andbonding them together by pressure in a common die or by bringing themtogether, preferably under pressure, as they are being extruded throughseparate dies.

The lip portion and the remainder of the front strip portion may havethe same or different colours. In the case where the main part of thefront strip portion is made of a transparent plastics material with ametal foil or metallised plastics foil embedded therein or securedthereon, the lip portion may be made of an opaque material, of black orother desired colour, so as to obscure from view the gap therebehind orany condensation or moisture which may collect behind the lip.

Several embodiments of this modified trim strip and window assembliesincorporating this trim strip will now be described with reference toFIGS. 11 to 16.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the trim strip 6 is basically similar tothe trim strip described above and comprises a channel-shaped portion 7adapted to embrace the edge of the glass panel 4, and a front stripportion 8 which overlies the front wall 7a of the channel portion andforms a hinged junction with the top edge of said front wall 7a. Alongthe free edge of the front strip portion 8 is a marginal zone 8a made ofa flexible material constituting a flexible lip which flexes and foldsto a V-shaped or U-shaped form, as shown in FIG. 11, when the glasspanel 4, with the trim strip around its edge, is inserted into therebate 1, constituting the windscreen opening of a vehicle body, withthe lip 80 pressed against the peripheral wall 3 of the rebate.

The glass panel with the trim strip around its edge is secured in therebate by an adhesive applied in any of the ways described above. In theembodiment shown in FlG. Ill, the rear wall 7b of the channel portionofthe trim strip isof less depth than the front wall 7a and the assemblyis secured by a mass of adhesive sealant 5, for example a butyl rubberadhesive sealant, between the back of the glass, around a zoneadjacenLthe edge thereof which lies behind and is hidden .by the frontwall 711 and the front strip portion 8, and the rearwall 2 of therebate. The trim strip may be secured to the glass by a layer 17 ofadhesive between the base ofthe channel portion 7 and the edge of theglass. Spacer supports 1 l, conveniently made of plastics material orrubber, may be provided between the wall of the rebate and the base ofthe channel portion 7. They may be stuck to the rebate.

At least the lip 8a is preferably made of opaque material, so that thespace therebehind is obscured from view. 1

FIG. 12 shows the cross-section of the trim strip as made, thelip 8ahaving its normal unflexed shape before assembly in the rebate. The mainpart of the front strip portion 8 is shown as being extruded oftransparent polyvinylchloride, with a strip of aluminium foil 9 embeddedtherein, as described above, so that its bright surface is visiblethrough the front strip portion. The lip portion 8a is extruded of asofter and more flexible grade of opaque polyvinylchloride, bonded tothe free edge of the transparent front strip portion 8. By way ofexample, the transparent polyvinylchloride may have a softness of 5 to10 (measured according to British Standard Specification No. 2 782, Part3, 1957) and the lip portion a softness of 40-85, measured according tothe same specification.

The two parts 8 and 8a may be fused together by simultaneously extrudingthe two plastics materials through the same extrusion die, or byextruding them through separate extrusion dies and bringing them intocontact, preferably under applied pressure, while they are still inheat-softened condition. Alternatively the two parts may be extrudedseparately and. the two extrusions may be bonded together byheat-softening the surfaces to be joined, by hot air jets or in anyother convenient manner, and then pressing the heat-softened surfacestogether.

It will be seen that the lip portion 8a is made with a cranked shape andthat a groove 85 is provided along the lip portion to facilitate itsbending to the desired V- shape during assembly. I

In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the peripheral wall 3 ofthe rebate, instead of being substantially perpendicular to its backwall 2 as in FIG. 1 1, slopes forwardly at an obtuse angle to the backwall 2. In this embodiment the front strip portion is wider than in theembodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 and the lip portion 8a pressesagainst the peripheral wall 3.

It has been found that where the bottom of the rebate slopes forwardlyat more than a slight angle, spacer blocks like the spacer blocks 11used to support the glass in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, may slideforwards and down the peripheral wall'of the. rebate under the weightand vibration of the glass, even if the spacer blocks are stuck to thewall 3. If this problem arises, it may be overcome by mechanicallyretaining or fixing the spacer blocks against such sliding, or the glassmay besupported by the bottom of the channel portion 7 resting onanother kind of support which itself cannot drop under the temperature,vibration and other conditions to which it can be subjected during useof the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 13, this support is provided by aplurality of metal clips 20 (only one of which is visible) which arehooked over the back wall 2 along the bottom of the rebate, eachcomprising a support leg 20a integral with a hook portion 20b which fitsover the back wall 2 of the rebate, the clips being spaced along vthebottom of the window opening.

Instead of the flexible lip 8a pressing against the peripheralwall 3 ofthe rebate, it may press against the front 3aof the rebate, forexampleas shown in FIG, 15. The trim strip as made is shown inFlG. 16,the lip portion 80 tapering to a thin edge, and both its front and backsurfaces may have a hollow configuration. This improves flexibility.Only one such surface need be hollowed, in which case it is preferablythe back surface (as shown) as this assists in the lip conforming to thevehicle body and improves the sealing.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 13 to 16, the lip portions do not have toflex so much relative to the remainder of the front strip portion, asthe lip portion of the embodiment of FIGS. 11-12, so that the grade ofpolyvinylchloride used for the lip portions of the embodiments of FIGS.13 to 16 need not be so soft as for the embodiment of FIGS. 1 1-12. Wehave found a material having a softness of 30 (according to BritishStandard Specification No. 2 782, Part 3, 1957) to be satisfactory withthe embodiments of FIGS. 13 to 16, the remainder of the front stripbeing made of transparent polyvinylchloride having the same softness asfor the embodiment of FIG. 11.

According to one procedure for glazing a window or windscreen openingusing the modified trim strip described with reference to FIGS. 11 to16, the glass, prior to assembly in the rebate, has the trim stripfitted around the edge thereof. The adhesive 5 is applied either to theback of the rebate or the back of the glass. The glass and trim stripassembly is then offered up to the rebate so that the bottom of thechannel 7 rests on the spacer supports 11 or the clips and the assemblyis pressed inwards to press the adhesive 5 between the glass and theback wall 2 of the rebate. During this operation the lip 8a pressesagainst the peripheral wall 3 or the front 3a of the rebate, as the casemay be, and flexes relative to the remainder of the front strip portionand urges the latter in a direction away from the front wall 7a of thechannel portion to keep the inner edge of the front strip portionagainst the glass.

If it be desired to cover the mass of adhesive 5 where it is exposedbetween the back of the glass and the edge of the back wall 2 of therebate, this may be effected by applying a further interior trim stripthereover.

While particular embodiments of this modified trim strip have beendescribed, it will be understood that various modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention. For example, otherforms of decorating the trim strip and of sticking the assembly in therebate, as described above, may be adopted. Further the whole of thefront strip portion including the lip portion 8a may be made of anopaque material or materials, of a colour or colours suitable for thevehicle body styling. The trim strip may be made of the same materialthroughout, of a suitable grade of hardness, the lip portion beingsuitably dimensioned and if necessary provided with a groove or groovesto facilitate its flexing in the desired manner when the glazingassembly is inserted in the rebate.

I claim:

1. A window assembly in which a glass panel is secured with the aid ofan adhesive to a rebate having a back wall and a peripheral wall anddefining an opening in which the glass is fitted, wherein the edge ofthe glass panel is surrounded by a trim strip of flexible plasticsmaterial comprising a channel portion having front and rear walls spacedapart by a base portion to embrace the edge of the glass and a frontstrip portion which extends from the edge of said front wall of thechannel the base of the channel, said front strip portion being' free toflex away from said front wall of the channel about its junction withsaid edge of said front wall and a zone along the free edge of saidfront strip portion comprising a lip portion which is so dimensioned andshaped and is made of a material which is softer and of a'more flexiblenature than that of the remainder of the front strip portion that, whenpressure is applied against said free edge, the lip portion will flex orbend relative to the remainder of the front strip portion more readilythan said front strip portion flexes about its junction with the frontwall of the channel portion of the strip, with its channel portionembracing the edge of the glass panel and said lip portion pressingagainst the peripheral wall of the rebate.

2. A window assembly according to claim 1, further characterised in thatthe rear wall of the channel portion is of less depth than said frontwall, and the adhesive is applied to the back of the glass around a zonewhich is hidden behind said front channel wall and said front stripportion.

3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall of therebate is disposed substantially perpendicular to the back wall thereof,and the lip portion is folded to a V-shaped cross-section and pressesagainst said peripheral wall.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall of therebate extends at an obtuse angle to the back wall thereof.

5. A window assembly trim strip of flexible plastics materialcomprising:

a. a channel portion having a front channel wall with a top edge and arear channel wall with a top edge, said front and rear channel wallsbeing spaced apart by a base portion such that said channel portion canembrace the edge of a pane of glass with said front channel wall lyingagainst the front surface of the glass and the rear channel wall lyingagainst the rear surface of the glass;

b. a front strip portion having one edge united to said top edge of saidfront channel wall and forming a hinge junction therewith, and havingits other edge free, said front strip portion being wider than the depthof said front channel wall and extending from said top edge of the'frontchannel wall to overlie said front channel wall with its said other freeedge projecting beyond the base of said channel portion;

. said front strip portion being connected to said channel portion onlyby said hinge junction and being free to flex away from said frontchannel wall about said hinge junction;

d. said free edge of said front strip portion being free to stretchsufficiently to enable the trim strip to be bent around the corner ofthe glass without buckling said hinge junction edge of said front stripportion;

e. and a strip of metal foil adjacent to the front surface of said frontstrip portion and covered by a transparent protective layer.

6. A trim strip according to claim 5 wherein a zone along the free edgeof said front strip portion comprises a lip portion which is sodimensioned and shaped and is made of a material which is softer and ofa more flexible nature than that of the remainder of the front stripportion that, when pressure is applied against said free edge, the lipportion will flex or bend relative to the remainder of the front stripportion more readily than said front strip portion flexes about itsjunction with thefront wall of the channel portion of the strip. A

7. a trim strip according to claim 6 wherein said lip is provided withat least one groove extending therealong.

8. A trim strip according to claim 6 wherein said lip portion taperstowards a thin free edge.

9. A trim strip according to claim 6 wherein said lip portion includes afront surface and a back surface and wherein at least one of the frontand back surfaces of said lip portion has a hollow configuration.

front channel wall is deeper than said rear channel wall.

1. A window assembly in which a glass panel is secured with the aid ofan adhesive to a rebate having a back wall and a peripheral wall anddefining an opening in which the glass is fitted, wherein the edge ofthe glass panel is surrounded by a trim strip of flexible plasticsmaterial comprising a channel portion having front and rear walls spacedapart by a base portion to embrace the edge of the glass and a frontstrip portion which extends from the edge of said front wall of thechannel portion and overlies said front wall and projects beyond thebase of the channel, said front strip portion being free to flex awayfrom said front wall of the channel about its junction with said edge ofsaid front wall and a zone along the free edge of said front stripportion comprising a lip portion which is so dimensioned and shaped andis made of a material which is softer and of a more flexible nature thanthat of the remainder of the front strip portion that, when pressure isapplied against said free edge, the lip portion will flex or bendrelative to the remainder of the front strip portion more readily thansaid front strip portion flexes about its junction with the front wallof the channel portion of the strip, with its channel portion embracingthe edge of the glass panel and said lip portion pressing against theperipheral wall of the rebate.
 2. A window assembly according to claim1, further characterised in that the rear wall of the channel portion isof less depth than said front wall, and the adhesive is applied to theback of the glass around a zone which is hidden behind said frontchannel wall and said front strip portion.
 3. An assembly according toclaim 1, wherein the peripheral wall of the rebate is disposedsubstantially perpendicular to the back wall thereof, and the lipportion is folded to a V-shaped cross-section and presses against saidperipheral wall.
 4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein theperipheral wall of the rebate extends at an obtuse angle to the backwall thereof.
 5. A window assembly trim strip of flexible plasticsmaterial comprising: a. a channel portion having a front channel wallwith a top edge and a rear channel wall with a top edge, said front andrear channel walls being spaced apart by a base portion such that saidchannel portion can embrace the edge of a pane of glass with said frontchannel wall lying against the front surface of the glass and the rearchannel wall lying against the rear surface of the glass; b. a frontstrip portion having one edge united to said top edge of said frontchannel wall and forming a hinge junction therewith, and having itsother edge free, said front strip portion being wider than the depth ofsaid front channel wall and extending from said top edge of the frontchannel wall to overlie said front channel wall with its said other freeedge projecting beyond the base of said channel portion; c. said frontstrip portion being connected to said channel portion only by said hingejunction and being free to flex away from said front channel wall aboutsaid hinge junction; d. said free edge of said front strip portion beingfree to stretch sufficiently to enable the trim strip to be bent aroundthe corner of the glass without buckling said hinge junction edge ofsaid front strip portion; e. and a strip of metal foil adjacent to thefront surface of said front strip portion and covered by a transparentprotective layer.
 6. A trim strip according to claim 5 wherein a zonealong the free edge of said front strip portion comprises a lip portionwhich is so dimensioned and shaped and is made of a material which issofter and of a more flexible nature than that of the remainder of thefront strip portion that, when pressure is applied against said freeedge, the lip portion will flex or bend relative to the remainder of thefront strip portion more readily than said front strip portion flexesabout its junction with the front wall of the channel portion of thestrip.
 7. a trim strip according to claim 6 wherein said lip is providedwith at least one groove extending therealong.
 8. A trim strip accordingto claim 6 wherein said lip portion tapers towards a thin free edge. 9.A trim strip according to claim 6 wherein said lip portion includes afront surface and a back surface and wherein at least one of the frontand back surfaces of said lip portion has a hollow configuration.
 10. Atrim strip according to claim 5, wherein the front surface of said frontstrip portion is of shallow convex configuration.
 11. A trim stripaccording to claim 5, wherein said strip of metal foil is bonded to thefront surface of said front strip portion and covered by a protectivelayer.
 12. A trim strip according to claim 5, wherein said strip ofmetal foil is imbedded in said front strip portion.
 13. A trim stripaccording to claim 5, wherein said front channel wall is deeper thansaid rear channel wall.